British Soldiers to Face Iraq Murder Charges

Britain's attorney-general says seven British soldiers will stand trial for allegedly murdering a civilian in southern Iraq in 2003.

Attorney-General Peter Goldsmith says Thursday the incident occurred on a road in al-U'Zayra in May, 2003.

Officials say the men also face charges of violent disorder. They gave no other details, or mentioned a date for the proceedings.

Britain currently has about 9,000 troops deployed in southern Iraq. Since the U.S.-led invasion almost two years ago, British officials have launched more than 130 investigations into incidents ranging from road traffic accidents to deaths of Iraqis in custody.

Separately, British military prosecutors have dropped the remaining charge against one of three soldiers accused of mistreating Iraqi civilians in May, 2003, near the southern city of Basra.